One-of-a-kind Italy: Unique elevated experiences in the bel paese

28.10.2023 - 09:43 / lonelyplanet.com

Sponsored by

From the lakes to the mountains and the cities to the sea, Italy offers an immense variety of landscapes and experiences for travelers to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-packed vacation or tranquil retreat, a vibrant city experience or cultural immersion, this is your guide to some elevated unique and lesser-known experiences in the bel paese.

Italy is well known for its cuisine and artisanal food traditions, and visitors can get an insider look at how some of the finest food products are sourced or created. Put on your walking shoes for a truffle hunt in the forests of Piedmont. Following specially trained truffle-hunting dogs, you’ll follow in the footsteps of those who have done this for centuries.

For oenophiles, visit the wineries of Tuscany for a wine tasting straight from the barrel. If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, take a guided tour of Venice’s Rialto Market and pick up some fresh-from-the-lagoon fish and vegetables for a cooking class.

Make it happen: Lufthansa flights to Turin, Florence and Venice are the perfect way to reach the best of Italy’s famous food and drink scene.

Every corner of Italy has a rich and complex history, and depending on your interests you can explore sites from the Romans to the Renaissance. For a special experience in one of the world’s most famous museums, consider taking a private after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, or even register for a tour following the Vatican’s Key Master as they unlock the galleries of the museum in the morning.

If you love Roman history, the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, near Naples, is not to be missed. The eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD (the same eruption that destroyed Pompeii) covered the city in meters of mud, preserving the city as it was. For an elevated experience, tour with an archaeologist as they bring the city to life while you walk through the ancient streets touring villas and Roman baths, admiring frescoes and mosaics.

Make it happen: Flights to Rome and Naples offer easy access to the best of Italy’s historic treasures.

If you’re looking for activities to get the adrenaline flowing, Italy has plenty of high-end options. The central Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is home to sports car manufacturers Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari, and visitors looking for speed can test drive the cars on the track or the streets of Maranello.

Perhaps heights is what you’re after, and a helicopter tour over Sicily’s Mount Etna will fit the bill. See the recent lava flows and historic craters of Europe’s largest active volcano from the air.

In search of a terrestrial mountain adventure instead? Take a guided hike on a via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites. These climbing routes vary from beginner